Guild Wars 2

I just received a 2000 gem card. Is there a guide or does anyone have any thoughts on smart ways to spend the currency? I just started playing about a week ago.

Thank you

Don’t use it on Black Lion keys or any of the RNG boxes. Other than that just keep ‘em until there’s something you want…if you’re new you probably want to change a couple hundred of them to gold, that will help big time:)

Gems don’t expire, so it won’t hurt to simply hang onto them until you find something you absolutely ‘must have.’

Although, I find bank tabs to be a sound investment. (At least a few).
As well as extra bag slots on main characters.
The unlimited tools are nice as well (keep in mind they soulbind once equipped, so make sure you put it on the right char).

Additionally, extra character slots, if you feel the desire to have 1 of each class.

Bank slots, bag slots for your main and transmutation crystals are your go-to items. Go for some nice armor skins or toys if it appeals to you.

First things I spent gems on were bag slots and bank slots. Those are pretty worthwhile investments.

I would go bank slots first before bag slots. Then transmutation crystals, then skins.

First and most important things I bought were extra character slots (I have 8 now) and extra bank tabs.

If you’re new and really hurting for gold, I guess you can exchange gems → gold but I hear the exchange rate isn’t that great. Hold onto em for when something really shiny comes along that you must have.

Seras.5702:

First and most important things I bought were extra character slots (I have 8 now) and extra bank tabs.

If you’re new and really hurting for gold, I guess you can exchange gems -> gold but I hear the exchange rate isn’t that great. Hold onto em for when something really shiny comes along that you must have.

Naw it’s gold>gems that’s bad, gems>gold is great these days.

Tip #1 – dont buy gems with real money.
I’m not farming anything but I can easily get over 50G / week.
Just spent 15G on a new hair style.

The things I found useful: bank tabs and transmutation crystals (you will receive transmutation stones from map completion and dailies, which you’ll use until level 79. Level 80 requires the crystals). I haven’t found it necessary to have extra bag slots. Some hairstyles and colors are gem store only (they come with the hairstyle kit), and last, armor skins.

Bank tabs are pretty much a must-have if you plan on playing for long.

Nick.6972:

Tip #1 – dont buy gems with real money.
I’m not farming anything but I can easily get over 50G / week.
Just spent 15G on a new hair style.

Tip #2 – if you can afford to buy gems because you work hard for your moneh, so haard for your moneh, then do it, who cares.

50g/week is not typical. Don’t even dream that you can make 50g/week by playing casually.

Awesome answers, thank you so much for the input.

Well if you’re into cosmetics, I’d say hold onto it until tomorrow. Tomorrow is the Blood and Madness update.

Usually it means new costumes, weapon skins, minis, etc. So if you are into buying town clothing and skins for your armor/weapons, wait till tomorrow to see what comes out. Every update always adds new things to the gem store.

Otherwise if you don’t care about any of that, don’t worry about it. If you are an altoholic, get three more character slots so you can have all eight professions. Banks tabs are nice, but a personal guild is free (of course you need to earn influence to get a guild bank). Bag slots are alright, but you can get by with large bags, especially since it is per character and not account wide. Makeover kits are decent if you want some of the new hairstyles and colors.

Just don’t buy anything that is a gamble. It is not worth it. Meaning RNG chests or Black Lion Keys. Even Dye kits. Anything that says you have a chance of getting something or a random item, don’t buy it. Don’t encourage Anet that it is okay to make these things.

But in the end, if nothing really catches your attention and you don’t see anything that is worth getting, you can always exchange it for in game gold instead.

Nick.6972:

Tip #1 – dont buy gems with real money.

I’m going to disagree with this point.

1) After initial purchase, the game is free to play. Meaning that there is no monthly fee. Many players have not spent a dime on this game after the initial purchase, but have played hundreds of hours. Just to be clear, I am 100% OK with this.

But how does a company survive offering free to play? By selling items individually. The players that purchase gems with IRL money keep the game free for everyone else.

It’s a very simple concept. Business must make profit to continue to operate. If they game were not continuing to make money, they could not pay their employees. Then there would be no game.

Though I’ve done this multiple times, exchanging gold for gems will not pay the Arenanet bills.

2) I have no problems spending money on Gem cards. After all the bills are paid, and our child is fed and clothed, we have an entertainment budget. Most people would probably spend this on a babysitter, going to a concert, going out to eat, date night, movie theater, etc… Occasionally we buy Gem cards.

My husband and I play GW2 together almost daily. We did gem cards for our anniversary gift. Yeah, we’re “that” couple. My daughter will probably get one in her stocking.

Now to the OP. I agree with the majority here. Don’t rush to spend them; they don’t expire.

I personally wouldn’t spend them on the RNG (random numbers generator) items like black lion keys and dye packs, but I’m not a gambler. I have friends that love to gamble, and this type of thing would just thrill them to death. So if it tickles your fancy, go right ahead.

I wouldn’t personally buy a makeover kit, but my hubby did and he’s thrilled to death with his purchase. I have purchased inventory expansion, bank expansion, and character slots and have not regretted it once. I think I’d like to get one of the unlimited harvesting tools too!

What it boils down to is, what makes you happy? Spend your gems on that.

Draknar.5748:

Nick.6972:

Tip #1 – dont buy gems with real money.
I’m not farming anything but I can easily get over 50G / week.
Just spent 15G on a new hair style.

Tip #2 – if you can afford to buy gems because you work hard for your moneh, so haard for your moneh, then do it, who cares.

50g/week is not typical. Don’t even dream that you can make 50g/week by playing casually.

50g a week really isnt that much. 2 cof, 2 se, maybe an AC run is about 2 hours of your time with a half decent group and thats guaranteed 4-5 gold not counting selling rares or salvaging and selling mats.

I think the most important things to know are that gems don’t expire and the gem store gets new items regularly.

So there’s no need to feel like you have to spend them all now. If there’s stuff you want then go for it, but don’t settle for things you maybe, sort of want just to get rid of the gems.